RedSea Max S-500 - LPS Focused Rebuild

[Sharper8583]

<current as of 11/4/2020>

I originally bought this tank years ago used with the intention of populating it with all LPS. The tank came with fish, rock, sand, some corals and all kinds of equipment. Short story I had to set it up pretty fast to make sure everything stayed alive. Because of that there are a few things that I didn’t get to do exactly how I wanted. Then after learning and growing a little there where new things that I learned and wanted to do. I also added some soft corals and kind of lost the direction I wanted to go with this tank.

To get this projected start I actually upgraded a 92 gallon Corner Aquarium to move corals into it. That tank was originally fish only with a Puffer, Snowflake Eel, One-Spot Foxface and a Lionfish. I’ll be setting up another build thread for that tank soon. Then I started moving any Zoa to my nano tank and all other soft corals to the 92 gallon.

Next step I built a custom Aquascape with a negative space stadium seating type of look. I wanted it to get higher as the scape went to the back right. I used GlueMaster and sand to build it with dry Marco rock.

I have lots of biomedia in my sump, some of my old live rock, and used all live sand. so I caught the fish removed all my old sand which was a mix of a few different sizes that came from the original owner but I didn’t like that. Watched for a cycle and my fish went back into the main display and I’m still dosing MicroBacteria7.

Next Up, I’ll start talking through equipment starting with my lighting....

 

[Sharper8583]

For Lighting I removed the standard light bar so I could raise the lights to 14” above the water. The light settings for LPS based on the BRS recommended From this video . I used the HMS hanging kit. It called for only using two of the AI hydra 26s so I moved the other to a different tank. They are set for 9 1/2 hours that includes ramp up and down time.








Here are some of the screenshots From the BRS video.

The lighting should be perfect for a LPS only aquarium.

Next up:
- What equipment I’m running under the tank.
- My mixing station that has my DOS for auto water changes and RODI top off plumped into my sump with what precautions I took.


I’ll also be updating the cover picture on the original post from time to time and I’ll add my latest testing parameters.

 

[SPR1968]

Great start and keep the pictures coming!

 

[Sharper8583]

So I had a bacteria bloom and caused some problems. Going forward I’m gonna go slower and move everything but two clownfish and one coral out. Wait to slowly add the fish then give the tank time to mature, grow coralline algae And Mack sure the bacteria population can support the everything.


trying to keep about 1/2” per gallon. I’m a little over that if they where all full size which they won’t be for a while. I’m trying to include a few in the sand or bottom of the tank, then plenty of tangs for algea eating and because I like the color Diversity.

so here is the list and a picture of each.

• Dwarf Flame Angel (4”)
• Dwarf Eibli Angel (4”)
• Black Ice Snowflake Clownfish pair (6”)
• Yellow Tang (8”)
• Purple Tang (8”)
• Blue Hippo Tang (8”)
• Basslet (3”)
• Blue Spotted Jawfish (4”)
• Orange Spot Sleeper Goby (6”)
• Midas Blenny (6”)
• Scott’s Fairy Wrasse Tonga (6”)
• Convict Tang (8”)

I couldn’t find an actual picture, so will have to take some of my current clownfish that will be the only inhabitants for now Soon.

then I’ll be back weekly with updates and more setup information as I go.

thanks!

 

[Sharper8583]

Cleanup Crew.

This weekend I’ll make sure I have the first stage of my cleanup crew added to the tank.

Stage 1 add the following

• Fighter Conch x2
• Trochus Snail x5
• Cerith Snails x2
• Nassarius x3
• Serpent Sea Star x1
• Tuxedo Urchin x1

Thoughts:
- fighter conch and cerith snails will be good for the top of the sand
- nassarius and sand shifting sea Star for keeping the sand bed stirred
- trochus and tuxedo will work on everything else

Stage 2 add the following (depending on need but probably in a couple months)

• Fighter Conch x1
• Trochus Snail x4
• Cerith Snails x3
• Nassarius Snail x3
• Blue knuckle Hermit Crab x2
• Scarlet Hermit Crabs x1
• Halloween Hermit Crab x1
• Emerald Crab x1

Stage 3 (Once I get more fish added to the tank)

• Blood shrimp x1